Head for musical instruments



June 9, 1931. G H, LOGAN 1,809,050

HEAD FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 23. 1929 INVENTOR Patented June9, 1931 I H. LOGAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA HEAD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSApplication led February 23, 1929. Serial No. 341,900.

'unevenly so that there are areas under eX- cessive tension and areaswhich are under a condition of slacki so that the musical value of theinstrument is lost.

For instruments emitting a heavy sound'or boom such as a bass drum, ahead or cover comprising la ers of fabric suchas is shown in my Patento. 1,018,767 granted February 27, 1912, may be utilized. As the tensionapplied to such cover is considerable, relatively thick layers of fabricmust be utilized to withstand the strains imposed on th)J head.

When fabric layers are made suiliciently thick to withstand the strainsto which they are subjected, they are incapable of emitting the higheror sharp tones characterizing Snarel drums, banjos an'd the like.

I provide a head or cover for musical instruments emitting a sharp orhigh tone in which'a layer of fabric and a'layer of skin are united by aglue. The thickness of the fabric is suiiicient to offer waterproofingprotection-to the layer of skin and at'the same time carry some of thetension applied `to `the cover. However, the major portion of thetension is withstood by the layer of skin. The presence of the layer offabric whichis uniformly secured to the layer of skin insures that theskin will keep its vshape'when subjected to slight moistening, whichmeistening would be suiicient to render the skin unsuitable for emittisounds if no fabric were present. The combined thickness of the skin andfabric layer is suiiciently thin so that the head gives olf the sharptone characterizing a snare drum, banjosand thelike, when struck sharblows or when subjected tothe vibration o strings such as snare stringsand 50 the like. l

While the head or cover is particularly useful in musical instrumentsemitting a sharp sound it may also be applied to musical instrument-shaving a deeper tone, such as bassl drums, tympana and the like. v

The accompanying drawings illustrate certain present preferredembodiments of the invention in which Figurel is a transverse sectionalview of a drum embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a head or cover therefor;

Figure 3 is a similar view of a modified form of the invention; andFigure 4 is a similar View of a further modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, amusical I instrument 2 in the form of asnare drum comprises a body 3 of cylindrical form terminating in beads 4at its edges, clamping rings extending over the beads 4, and confiningrims 6 on a head or cover 7. The heads 7 are placed at the opposite endsof the body 3 and are of similar construction. Lugs 8 are mounted on.the clamping rings. 5 and are provided with openings through whichclamping bolts 9 extend. A turn buckle 10 is disposed between oppositepairs of bolts 9 for drawing the rings 5 inwardly of the drum. Theinward movement ofthe 4rings 5 forces rims 6 of the heads 7 inwardly ofthe drum and tensions the alric of the heads 7 around the edges of thebeads 4, in a manner well known in the art. As the quality of sound ofthe instrument is controlled in large part by the tension on the heads7, considerable. pressure is applied to the rims 6.

One of the clamping rings. 5 is provided with openings 11 through whichsnare strings 12 extend. The snare strings 12 are held inl closeengagement with the head 7 by aiixed bracket 14 and a movable bracket15. The bracket 15 may be actuated by any one of a number of mechanismswhich are wellknown in the art and which constitute no part of thepresent invention. Upon tlre` tightening of the bracket 15 the snarestrings, 11 are brought into tight engagement withy the head 7 so thatthe vibrations ofthe snare externally of the fabric, Athe fabric keepsstrings are imparted to the head for producing the desired sound fromthe drum.

Referring to Figure 2,. the head 7 comprises a thin inner layer 16 ofskin, and an outer thin layer of fabric 17. Calfskin is often used forsuch instruments and linen or silk are used'as a fabric. The skin andfabric are united by a weatherproof bonding agent or by a glue. One formof glue which can be used for such purposes is described in my priorpatent. 1t is to be understood, however, that other types of skins,fabrics and glues may be used in lieu of calf skin, linen or silk andthe glue described in my prior patent within the spirit of the presentinvention as the foregoing specific materials are mentioned as examplesand not as limitations of the invention. The fabric and skin are loopedaround the rim 6 and glued thereto. The complete head and rim are selfsupporting when removed from the drum body.

However, when pressure is applied to the rim 6, in order to draw thehead over a drum bead 4, the head becomes Avery taut in order todevelop. the sharp sounds such as dii'erentiate a snare drum orbanjofrom a deep boom of a bass drum or tympanum. However, it is to beunderstood that the head or cover of the present invention may be usedon bass drums, tympana and the like.

When the head is stretched taut, the thin layer of skin withstands'mostof the tension. The layer of fabric serves as a waterproofing protectorfor the skin and also strengthens the head. At the same time thecombined thickness of fabric and skinl layers is not the desired lsharptones. vWhere layers of such as to interfere with the production offabric permits the playing of the instrument in wet Weather and even inrain without causing the skin to stretch or warp the drum.

Referring to Figure 3, in a modified form of the vinvention the head 7.is formed by placing the layer 16""of skin exterior to a layer 17 offabric.v This form of the invention is otherwise the same as the formillusf tratedin Figure 2. When the skin is placed the skin in aserviceable condition even though it becomes. somewhat moist.

Referring to Figure'll, a head 7 vner layer 18 of fabric and an outerlayer 19 of fabric. This form of the invention is particularly usefulfor heavier instruments such comprises a layer of skln 16" interposedbetweenan in-v present preferred embodiments of the invenl tion, it isto be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied within thespirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A head for a musical instrument com- A of fabric and means -forsecuring the material and fabric to each other.

3. A head for a snare drum comprising a layer of skin, a layer offabric, and glue for securing the skin and fabric to each other. 4. Amaterial for use as a vibratory diaphragm for musical instrumentscomprising a layer of skin, a layer offabric and a bonding agent forsecuring 4the skin and fabric to each other.

5. A material for use as a head for a musical instrument emitting sharptones comprising a thinlayer of skin, a thin layer of fabric and bondingmeans for securing the sln and fabric to each other.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y l GEORGE H. LOGAN.

